Fire-refuge.



Patented Dec. I9, l899.' J. P. LOWELL.

F l R E B E F U G E.

(Application filed Oct. 2, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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JAMES P. LOWVELL, OF \VAYNESBOROIIGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-REFUGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,591, dated December 19, 1899.

Serial No. 732,344. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JAMES P. LOWELL,acitizen of the United States, residing at WVaynesborough, in the county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Refuges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means for facilitating the escape of persons from the upper floors of burning buildings; and it consists of a collapsible fireproof chamber formed inside the building in front of a window or other opening, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the refuge, showing the parts in their normal position. Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the linew w in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar crosssection, but shows the refuge closed. Fig. 4 is a side View showing one means for connecting the top and bottom shutters of the, refuge. Fig. 5 is a plan View, and Fig. 6 is a front view, of the catch for supporting the bottom shutter of the refuge.

A is a portion of the wall of a building, and a is an opening, such, as a window-opening.

B is a frame secured to the wall inside the opening a. Slidable window-sashes b of approved construction are arranged in the fra me B so that they can easily be opened.

0 is a top shutter, and D is a bottom shutter or shelf. The top and bottom shutters are pivoted to the frame by hinges c and are preferably coupled together,so that they mo ve simultaneously in opposite directions.

E is a lever pivoted on a pin 6, projecting from the frame B. A connecting' rod d pivotally connects one end of the lever with a lug d on the shutter D, and a connecting-rod e pivotally connects the other end of the lever with a lug c on the top shutter 0. Any other approved mechanism can be used which will connect the two shutters together, so that they move simultaneously in opposite directions.

In order to prevent the bottom shutter D from dropping down after it has been raised to a horizontal position, an automatic catch is provided.

F is a pin which projects from one of the hinge members secured to the frame. The other hinge member turns on the pin F and is provided with a notch or recess f.

G is a locking-catch provided with a projection f for engaging with the recess f. The catch G engages with a rectangular portion 9 on the pin F, or is otherwise connected to the pin so that it may he slid longitudinally on it, but cannot be revolved upon it when the projection is in the recess. A spring g is provided for pressing the retractable catch into engagement with the recess f, and h is a collar secured to the pin F for the said spring to bear against.

I are side shutters connected to the frame B by hinges 2'. The side shutters are formed of foldable panels connected together by hinges 2".

The wall A of the building is provided with recesses h around the frame B for the shut ters O, D, and I to fold back into, so that they may be flush with the wall when the refuge is collapsed. The shutters are provided with fastening devices, such as hooks j, for securing them together when the refuge is closed.

The frame B and the shutters are formed of any approved fireproof or non-combustible material which is a bad conductor of heat, such as asbestos or fireproof wood treated by appropriate chemical process or faced with non-combustible material.

The side shutters have a groove knea'r their top and bottom edges, and theshutters C and D have projections or tongues which fit into the said grooves, so that smoke-tight joints may be formed between them.

The refuge-shutters are normally open, as shown in Fig. 1. When a fire breaks out, the top shutter is lowered by the act of raising the bottom shutter. As many persons as can do so stand on the bottom shutter and then close the side shutters, as shown in Fig. 3. The window-sash can then be raised to give sufficient air for breathing, and the persons will be safe in the smoke-proof refuge for a sufficient length of time to permit of their being reached by ladders from the outside or to permit of their lowering themselves by any approved fire-escape mechanism, which may be kept or fastenedinside the frame B, either inside or outside the window-sash.

Should the floor and ceiling of the room burn away, the refuge will not be affected, as it is wholly supported by theouter wall.

What I claim is- 1. In a fire-refuge, the combination, with a wall provided with an opening, of a collapsible chamber formed of shutters hinged to the inside of the said wall around the said opening, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire-refuge, the combination, with a wall provided with an opening, of a chamber projecting laterally from the inside of the said wall and wholly supported by the said wall and covering its said opening when closed, substantially as set forth.

3. 111 a fire-refuge, the combination, with a wall provided with an opening, of shutters hinged upon the inside of the said wall and forming when closed against each other a laterally-projecting chamber which covers the said opening, substantially as set forth.

I. In a fire-refuge, the combination, with a wall provided with an opening, of top and bottom shutters hinged above and below the said opening, and side shutters hinged at the sides of the opening, said shutters forming a chamber on the inside of the wall when closed, substantially as set forth.

5. In a fire-refuge, the combination, with a wall provided with an opening, of top and bottom shutters hinged above and below the said opening, coupling devices connecting the said shutters, and side shutters hinged at the sides of the opening, substantially as set forth.

6. In a fire-refuge, the combination, with a wall provided with an opening, of top and bottom shutters hinged above and below the said opening, automatic catch mechanism sup porting the bottom shutter when raised, and side shutters hinged at the sides of the opening, substantially as set forth.

7. In a fire-refuge, the combination, with a wall provided with an opening, of top and bottom shutters arranged above and below the opening, and foldable side shutters which close against the top and bottom shutters, said shutters having their meeting surfaces provided with interlocking portions which form smoke-tight joints, substantially as set forth.

8. In a fire-refuge, the combination, with a wall provided with an opening and recesses in its inside surface around the said opening, of shutters hinged around the said opening and normally arranged in the said recesses substantially flush with the inside surface of the wall, said shutters forming a laterallyprojecting chamber when closed against each other, substantially as set forth.

9. In a' fire-refuge, the combination, with a wall provided with an opening, of a frame secured in the said opening, shutters hinged to the top, bottom and sides of the said frame and forming a projecting chamber when closed, and a window arranged in the said frame, substantially as set forth.

10. In a fire-refuge, the combination, with a wall provided with an opening, of shutters supported by the wall and forming the front part of the refuge when closed over the said opening, and a top and a bottom for the said refuge arranged in substantially smoke-tight relation with the said shutters when closed, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES I. LOWELL. Vitnesses:

G. A. ANDERSON, DANIEL S. BEARD. 

